good morning everyone!

labchick- congrats to your son and his school!!! we are big high school football supporters over here also, so i know how proud you must be. good luck in the final rounds!!!

mychoice- take some time for yourself this weekend and do something special just for you. sorry about the binge, get your rest and do your best to stay focused!!

holly- i am so impressed!!! keep taking care of yourself girl! doesn't it feel good? so nice to hear you had such a nice day!!

i went out for dinner last night with dh, i was so good, i just kept thinking nourising foods (thanks for the reminder holly) i ordered a side order of broccoli and angel hair. i had a few bites of dh's salad and 1 piece of really good bread. i was very full when i was done too. i had a coffee later on but no evening snack since i was still full at bedtime. tonight is dinner out again birthday celebration for dd (15 on monday oh gosh where did all that time go?? and dh's bday is tomorrow) i am going to practice the same portion control and make healthy choices. thank you all so much for your congrats on my loss, it means the world to me to have a support system as wonderful as you are. lets hang in there ladies!!! we are going to leave 2004 a little lighter, a little healthier, and a whole lot happier!!! have a great day everyone!!!

Good morning ladies,

I haven't binged in a LONG time and now that I did, I remember why I worked so hard to stop doing that sort of thing. Physically it felt horrible and emotionally too! But it's over and done with and it's a new day!

My DH helped me with the house cleaning last night. I didn't want to have to do it when I got home from work today. I want to be able to relax this afternoon and to be in that state when we go to have dinner with some dear friends this evening. So, with the house in order and I also worked on a budget last night (I get real cranky when I feel out of control and I felt that our money situation was getting out of control--yep, I'm sort of a control freak, but I don't feel bad about it anymore!) I feel much more focused.

I picked up that Food and Exercise journal again and I'm committing to write in it everyday until December 31. At that time I'll decided if I want to continue journaling . It's something I always want to do then I don't carry through with it. Well, it's time to make a decision on that, and I need to really give it a try and see if it's something I want to do, or something that I think I should do.

Jodi: You are doing so well. It really is a matter of choice isn't it? Thanks for sharing how you are chosing with us. It helps me to get back on track and stay there.

Labchick: How exciting for your son! I would take the day off from work also. This is something that you just can't miss! How are you feeling after the fasting?

Holly: Oh wow! I loved the way you spent your time shopping. It sounded so relaxing and empowering! I'm going to check out the link you gave me and I'll try that ticker thing again. Thanks for the help.

Ok ladies, let's work really hard this weekend to stay on plan, to nurioush our souls and emotions.
_________________

Jodi~ Love you closing sentiment! Great dinner choices. Very exciting. Glad to hear you so positive again.Wow, your baby is turning 15.
Susie~nice of hubby to pitch in!I like all my ducks in a row too but have let some of that go. I live with 3 others people a few animals. It was just too draining.I have to be careful not to become complaisent now.
Labchick~Very exciting for your son and you!! Hope you feel balanced out today!

I stayed up late( my fav thing to do) and slept til 8:30.mmmmmmmm
I watched Joan of Arcadia. I cried rivers through the whole thing. It was such a good release.
I feel happy this morning ,ready to face the day.We have NO,that's NO plans today.Yippeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
Go out and feel some sunshine on your face today!

good morning everyone!
we had a very nice dinner out last night and went to the movies. dd was very happy to see "the polar express" we started reading this book together every christmas eve since she was just a little girl so that was her choice this year. i can't believe she is already 15 years old. the time really does fly by doesn't it? we got her an artists kit and some canvas for her birthday, she is very creative and loves to paint. my grandma is ill and in the hospital so i spent the better part of the afternoon there yesterday.

holly- i hope you were good to yourself all day yesterday! isn't it a great feeling with no plans for the day?

mychoice- sorry about the binge, at least you remembered how awful it is and hopefully that will keep you on track. it is nice to get things in order i am a bit of a control freak myself lol so i can understand!

well i hope you all have a beautiful sunday! be good to yourself!!

i had a great day yesterday. A friend come out for a haircut and i had him teach me how to burn Cd's. I was a major rocker chick back in the day and have tons of old cd's.I never listen to a whole one now so I made several mixed cd's of fav songs all day long !!I did a minimun of housework. DH and DS played video games all day. DD puttered around. I had 2 good meals yesteday. breaky at 11 and dinner at 6. I had afew rice crackers and hummus at 11.
My SS kids sang this morning at church.A funky kumbaya.Went GREAT!!
I made weiners and beans for DH and kids and they are off skating.I made baked pita chips for me, with hummus,cottage cheese and some avocado. I need to have fruit for a snack!! I bought a whole whack of celery to cut up and have available.
I am about to make 10 lbs of scalloped potatoes for the ham supper at the church tonight.
I'll be rockin though.
i really must vacuum! I have been such a rebel!

Jodi~ gald you had a good time out. Hope your Grandma is on the mend.Take care.

Hello,
I just got back from the Y. It was my first "real" workout in over a week. I felt really good once I got there but I didn't allow myself to overdue. The important thing is that I go back tomorrow and do another workout!

It was a little hard getting there today. After I finished with my 2 hour tutoring session for my Accounting class, I just wantd to lie down and go to sleep for a while, but I didn't; I got dressed and went to workout. I'm glad I went and that it's over with!

I did journal today. Feels good to have done that also.

We are headed to some friends house to have pizza and watch a movie, that should be a nice relaxing time.

Jodi: I want to go see Polar Express. It sounds like you had a nice time with your DD. They do grow up fast don't they? It seems strange when I see little ones who have reached there teen years. I don't seem to age as fast as they are growing up! I'm sorry to hear that your grandmother isn't well. Grandparents are such an important part of a family. They have all the history. It's nice that you spent time with her.

Holly: I haven't burned a cd yet, but I'm going try it soon. When my computer crashed my brother put in a CD burner for me. I want to make cd's that I can take with me to the Y for my cardio workout. So, now that you are a pro at making them, if I have any questions, I'll know where to turn.

Great job on being the rebal and avoiding the vacumming for a while. I know that can be tough when you think you "should" do it. My life has always been full of things I "should" do. You know as I get older I'm learning to say "I should, but I don't want to!" and it feels great when I can do that!

I'll see you all tomorrow.

Susie

Weekend was OK
 

I don't normally check in on the weekends because my computer doesn't like this site. :comp: So here I am on Monday at work, reporting in on my weekend.

I went to Curves on Friday and have lost a little weight since my last weigh-in (our "official" weigh-ins are only 1x/month, but I check my weight on Saturdays, too). Not alot, but anything is something. I have a goal of 17 pounds by Christmas; this brings me down to 14.5 to go!

Nan - Thanks for checking up on me and my blood pressure! I'll be checking back in at Health Svcs later this week just to see how it's going. In the meantime, I'll be walking and watching that food! Hope you had a great birthday, despite those who forgot it.

Holly - Sounds like you have fun w/your church! I'm in the same boat there. Feels good making a difference for others.

Jodi - Way to reinforce that artistic talent in your daughter. It's so important for parents to recognize that in their children and show them that they can achieve great things, no matter where their talent lies!

MyChoice - I'm with you on the journal thing. I found a great web site where you can journal electronically for free...fitday.com. I've found it's a GREAT tool for keeping track of your food, plus you can also record your activity for the day and generate some reports on activity level, calories burned, etc. It's very cool to see that stuff in charts and graphs!

Everyone else - How was your weekend? Success with food and activities? I've been doing OK on all that. Need to be more active, but I've started walking with a friend at work every day which will certainly add to my calorie burning. Hope everyone has a super week! Don't get discouraged, no matter what you do this week. Pick yourself up and try again!!

:sumo:

Good morning,
Just a fast check-in this morning. I'm feeling very positive today about life. It feels good to feel that way. I've found that exercising really helps my outlook on things.

I'm going to a new doctor this afternoon. He's a Uro who specializes in IC. I've been doing really good with my symptoms lately, but I still want to have a second opinion on my care. I'm also hoping that he might have some input on the "intimate" side of my life that IC can put a damper on.

If you wouldn't mind saying a prayer about my appointment for me I sure would appreciate it. I thank God everyday that I'm feeling so much better these days and I ask Him to continue to bless me as such.

Hevron: Congrats on the weight loss. You are doing great and I have every bit of faith that you will reach your Christmas goal. Isn't it going to feel great to start the new year knowing that in 2004 we did something (at long last for me!) about our weight and that in 2005 we will be under 200?

I'm glad to see that you found a walking partner. My workout partner is so important to me getting in my workouts. It really helps to know that someone else is counting on you to be there.

Everyone, have a geat day! It's your day to do what you want to do with it!

Good Morning,

Hevron~ Congrats on the loss. You are doing so well.

Susie~Glad you are feeling positive!! What a nice way to start the week.You will be in my prayers.It is great that you are following through on your care.

I made 10 lbs of scalloped potatoes for the church ham supper and then I helped cleared tables and do dishes for 300 people.Another SS mom and I were the only "young" people helping. Lots of others were there eating??!! She was quite perterbed. we have about 40 people come out every Sunday. we have 900 in our town.
The irritating thing is some "town" folks have a LOT to say about anything this other Mom and I do yet we are the ones DOING the work all the time. I struggled with this quite a bit earlier this year, wondering if it was wirht it.I ahve decided it feels right to me to do the SS stuff so i continued. I really have to shut out the complainers. it really is THEIR problem.

I got home late and then watched TV. I am tired today. Started my period too. I am super puffy. Gotta get some water into me.

Here is what I ate yesterday. I wasn't hungry but it was sort of odd...I think.
Breaky~ 2 5 in banana pancakes w syrup, no butter,2 coffee w skim milk
Lunch~ 1 baked pita 1/4 c hummus, 1/2 c cottage cheese,1/4 avocado, apple
Dinner~ 2 slices keilbasa, apple ( iwas thinking I would eat dinner after the church stuff)
Snack, 1 bread and butter 2 slices keilbasa
I had NO veggies!!!
I didn't really feel any hunger all day. I will cut up a bunch of celery and have it ready for today.
The house needs a LOT of tidying.

Good morning all. Icky Monday.

I am glad to hear you are doing the best you can.

I was up a pound on the scale yesterday. Not good, but I don't feel too bad. At least I am exercising. I talked to the nurse who runs our Healthy Heart program that I'm in and we were talking about poly cystic ovarian syndrome, what I have. She told me it's a metabolic syndrome and that I shouldn't focus on my weight because much of that is out of my control...but she said to work on being "fit".

That is rather disheartening...I understand what she is saying...but I don't want it to sound like it's my destiny to be overweight. But I do understand that I should work on being FIT. Just because I'm overweight doesn't mean I can't build muscle and continue to do my cardio. I know I am bettering myself.

On a lighter note, we have hot water! Whoo!

Girlie

Hi, ladies...It was so nice to read all your posts and catch up on what everyone's been doing. I was a BAD girl last week and when I got on the scale this morning, I paid for it. Up 4 pounds! However, today is Monday and today is D-Day! I just got done walking five miles and I have been measuring and journaling today. I am back in the groove. Had a very nice weekend, though. I watched Cold Mountain on Fri. night and enjoyed it very much. Jude Law is very cute. Then on Saturday night I watched This is Spinal Tap which brought back my rocker chick days. I ate lots of bad things and just was a couch potato, but it was nice to veg out and have nowhere to go.

Heather-looks like you are well on your way to meet your goal by Christmas!

Susie-I will pray for your doctor's appt. I hope they are able to improve on your care and help you feel better.

Holly-In the 80's, I was very into rock & roll. I've made several cd's to walk to. I'd love to get an mp3 player for Christmas, but I don't know if the funds will be available. Keep up your hard work at your church. There are always plenty to complain and too few to help, but you are doing the right thing.

Labchick-Hope your fast went well.

Jodi-sounds like you had a great weekend. My oldest ds is 13 so I know how you feel about your dd birthday. Was the Polar Express good?

Well, gotta go to the grocery store and clean the house. Take care!

Jill

Hello
 

Well, so far so good! I went up 8 lbs over two days and knew it had to be water weight so I just stuck to the plan and now I've lost 5 of those today. At first it really freaks me out to see the scale go up 3 lbs a day for two to three days and I get all bummed out, but then I remind myself of my weird patterns and get hunkered down to see if it's just a blip. I can tell I still have more water weight because my bra never fits right during that time either. Now to get back down to business and start losing real weight. I really want to be below 200 by early Spring. That's when I get out more and go to my son's baseball games and it's just so nice when you come out of the woodwork and feel smaller for the new season of shorts. :D There are about 5 of us moms who all sit at the games together and it's always nice when we can look at each other and compliment each other on getting rid of some of our holiday fat.

Jill - Take how you feel about the 4 lb gain and turn it into anger. Let that anger motivate you to stick to plan and burn it right back off. (I'm talking about good anger here, not the ugly "let's put a hole in the wall anger" ;) )

Girlie - I'm so glad you have hot water! That's always a nice thing to have in your own home. I don't know alot about PCOS, but I'm pretty sure that an endocrinologist can help you with that. I found one by calling the University of Minnesota's Research Department and got a listing of the MD's that do both research on obesity and work in a private practice. It may be worth a look. (Sorry, I'm not trying to be pushy. I just hate it when practitioners paint a bleak picture when it comes to weight loss and weight control.) I believe that as long as the body is warm, there is hope!

Holly - You are my hero! I probably would have been sorely tempted to throw the potatoes at them instead of scooping it on their plates. This way they'd have a legitimate reason to complain. ;)

Susie - I hope your appointment goes well and options open up for you in terms of treatment. Considered yourself "prayed for" :D

Heather - YOU GO GIRL on the weight loss. That's awesome! My birthday had a huge silver lining. The people I work with bought me lunch on Saturday and then a few of the day crew (I used to work days) took me out for dinner. It was so much fun.

Jodi - Was the "Polar Express" good? I want to take my youngest to see it the week of Thanksgiving.

I'd better get back to my classes.

Nan

Hi, all...Had a great day today-stayed under 1000 calories for the day and exercised.

Girlie-I have never heard of PCOS>>>Is it painful? How did they know to check you for it? I'm sorry if I'm being too nosy-I'm just curious. I agree with Labchick on the checking into other scources of medical info. But it is also great to concentrate on being fit. Yea for the hot water!

Labchick-I hope you lose all you want by spring. My ds plays baseball too and it's been awful to go to the ball field the last few seasons wearing bigger and bigger shorts. I'm joining you on trying to get back into my smaller shorts.

Well, chickies, good night and sleep tight!

Jill

hello everyone!!
late check in for me tonight. work was so busy i didn't have time to check in at least the day went by quickly. i'm still plugging along. i did get some exercise in tonight free weights and calestenics (sp?). "the polar express" was fantastic, they had to add alot to it to make the movie but i think they did a really good job. tom hanks is good in almost any movie. i reccomend it to everyone. my grandma had surgery today to put in a permanent feeding tube. she made it through the surgery ok and hopefully the tube will work they are not sure yet. she has been in a nursing home for the past 2 years with alzheimers and dimentia, she has now lost the ability to swallow. i am taking this all fairly well considering the circumstances. i really just want to see her not suffering anymore. i did good on the food today, i drank plenty of water and i am feeling good from the exercise (even though i really hate it deep down inside lol)

holly- keep up the good work at church, there are always those "talkers" in any situation don't let them get to you. do what you want to do for YOU. i have a hard tme getting my veggies in also everyday. good luck with the celery.

my choice can i ask what is IC? good luck at the dr. i hope it went well for you. i will keep you in my prayers.

labchick girl your patience is astounding to me keep the great attitude!! i have such a hard time during the "bumpy" times. just keep looking forward!!

greenlass hello glad you had a great day! good job getting all the walking in! you are so close keep up the good work!!

girlie- i really know nothing about PCOS but we are all here for you!! keep looking forward and making positive changes for your health. don't get discouraged by 1 persons comments. you are doing a good job exercising etc. just stay on a good path. oh yeah and thank goodness for hot water!!

hevron great job on the loss!! keep up the good work!!!

i better get my butt to bed, so tired tonight! hope you all have a great day!

Girlie you doing great by keeping up the exercise. There is a pcos group in the threads somewhere. do you go there for support too?
Hooray for hot water!!!

Greenlass~ you rocked today!!

labchick~ I want to be under 200 by spring too. I am aiming for under 230 right now.I seem sooooo stuck.

jodi~ glad you popped in. Hope you are having a peaceful sleep!!

I ate the whole bunch of celery and cabbage salad and some carrots today!!

I am more of a meditating, chanting ,yoga kind of Gal but Sunday School has been great for the kids.When our friend was killed earlier this year I heard my then 5 year old explaining to other children how God was taking care of Ben and he would be okay. I knew for certain going to church was the right thing.
It is a nice sense of community for me.

Hope everyone is happily snuggled in for the night.